Wednesday brought the news that nominations are being accepted to honor more women next year.

Iowa Women Lead Change, a statewide organization promoting women's leadership, will be presenting the 2019 Iowa Women of Achievement Awards recognizing the contributions of Iowa women “who made outstanding and lasting contributions to the citizens of Iowa or have advanced the well-being of others throughout the world.”

Nominees will be historical (deceased) women who were born in Iowa; achieved prominence within Iowa; or had been a resident of Iowa for an extended period after achieving prominence elsewhere. They are due by Jan. 15, 2019.

The $10 million pedestrian bridge along the Principal Riverwalk was a gift to the city in celebration of the 125th anniversary of Principal Financial Group. But new honorees have not been added since October 2013.

In 2013, the selection committee that chose the first four women was headed by Mary O’Keefe, chair of the Riverfront Development Authority and Principal’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer.

But the project stalled after O’Keefe retired.

The first four women honored were Carrie Chapman Catt, one of the leaders of the American women's suffrage movement; Louise Noun, the philanthropist, civil rights activist and patron of the arts; Sister Bernadine Pieper, a nationally renowned scientist and educator; and Gertrude Elzora Durden Rush, the first African-American woman to practice law in the state of Iowa.

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Louise Noun, a Des Moines feminist.(Photo: Register file photo)

As many as three awards will be presented annually with the first honorary plaques being added to the bridge June 8, 2019.

Nominees will be selected on merit in the following areas: lasting contributions made by the nominee; service as a role model or change agent; impact on the social, cultural, economic or political well-being of the community, state or nation; inspiration for future generations.

To nominate an outstanding historical Iowa woman, fill out the online form at IWLCLeads.org/Women-Achievement. All nomination forms and supporting documents must be submitted by Jan. 15, 2019.